Ling Tuisi froze.
His entire body tensed, his eyes locked onto Li Daoqiang.
A perfect son-in-law? Who?
Instinctively, his mind raced to figure out who it could be.
At his level, there was no room for jokes.
So despite his shock and confusion over how this involved his daughter, he quickly began pondering Li Daoqiang's true intent and who the candidate might be.
After a brief moment of thought, he raised an eyebrow and asked in surprise, "Brother, are you joking?"
"Li never jokes," Li Daoqiang said with an air of righteousness.
"Then who might you be referring to?" Ling Tuisi asked, puzzled.
Li Daoqiang looked at Ling Tuisi meaningfully and said slowly, "It's someone from my Black Dragon Stronghold."
Instantly, Ling Tuisi's expression shifted slightly. He gave Li Daoqiang a somewhat odd look.
He couldn't help but admire him inwardly.
What a man, this Li Daoqiang!
He wants to be my son-in-law—no doubt trying to bind himself more tightly to me through this.
A member of the Black Dragon Stronghold, someone worthy of Li Daoqiang personally proposing marriage and matching his daughter.
Other than Li Daoqiang himself, who else could it be?
He had to admit, it was a clever move.
Having a grandmaster as a son-in-law, even if the man was a bandit, was something he'd gladly accept.
He believed that once Li Daoqiang became his son-in-law, he too would reap many benefits.
The more he thought about it, the more satisfied he became.
As for their brotherly address, that was trivial and not worth dwelling on.
But then, recalling his daughter's current condition, Ling Tuisi grew cautious and probed, "Brother, do you know that my daughter's appearance is... marred?"
Even though Li Daoqiang's marriage to his daughter was surely driven by interests, with her looks as they were now, if he took her as his wife, over time it might harm their relationship.
That wasn't what he wanted.
So even knowing Li Daoqiang had brought it up and likely didn't care about her appearance, he still had to ask carefully and set things straight in advance.
Li Daoqiang waved a hand dismissively and affirmed, "No matter. He doesn't care about looks. What he likes is Miss Ling herself."
Ling Tuisi's mouth nearly twitched. This young man was far too deep.
Lying through his teeth without a hint of hesitation.
Have you even met my daughter?
Of course, he wouldn't say that. Instead, he forced a faint smile and asked expectantly, "And who might this person be?"
Li Daoqiang's smile grew wider as he said calmly, "Ding Dian, my new good brother from the Black Dragon Stronghold."
Ling Tuisi's eyes went wide in an instant, filled with icy coldness.
He stepped back two paces and forced a strained smile. "Brother, who did you say?"
"Ding Dian, my new good brother from the Black Dragon Stronghold." Li Daoqiang spoke as if he noticed nothing amiss, still smiling.
Ling Tuisi could no longer hold back. Panic crept in as he said coldly, "Are you mocking me, brother?"
In his anger and alarm, he could only hide behind those words.
It wasn't surprising. In his eyes, he and Ding Dian were mortal enemies.
If Ding Dian had taken refuge under Li Daoqiang, it could spell trouble for him.
And then there was the matter of the Liancheng Jue treasure.
Gao Yuan and the other two were equally shocked and terrified, at a loss.
Ding Dian!
Li Daoqiang was playing matchmaker for Ding Dian!
The thought alone felt absurd, yet terrifying.
Ding Dian had a deep-seated grudge against their master.
Li Daoqiang still acted as if he saw nothing unusual, smiling and saying, "Why would I toy with you, big brother?"
He paused, then continued, "I know there's some bad blood between Ding Dian and you, Brother Ling. But that's in the past. Now that Ding Dian has joined the Black Dragon Stronghold as my best brother, given our relationship, we're all one family."
"Besides, Ding Dian and Miss Ling truly love each other. He doesn't care at all about her appearance. Miss Ling comes from a noble family, is intelligent and virtuous, gentle and kind."
"As for Ding Dian, my brother, I know him best. He's upright, loyal, and highly skilled in martial arts."
Suddenly, he paused, a sly, teasing look in his eyes as he said slowly, "More importantly, Ding Dian is on the verge of breaking through to grandmaster."
Ling Tuisi's expression shifted again, a tremor in his pupils.
"Brother Ling, aren't these two a match made in heaven?" Li Daoqiang finished slowly.
As his voice died down, the room fell silent.
Only a few heavy breaths betrayed the tension.
Seeing Ling Tuisi lost in his own thoughts, Li Daoqiang wasn't in a hurry. He waited patiently.
Watching Li Daoqiang's calm, confident demeanor, Ling Tuisi unknowingly broke out in a sweat on his forehead.
Rage boiled inside him.
But he dared not lash out. Yet could he really agree?
A wave of reluctance surged.
He and Ding Dian had a blood feud. How could he marry his daughter to him?
No, absolutely not.
Even if Ding Dian truly broke through to grandmaster, it was still a no.
With that hatred, he'd surely kill me one day.
How could such hatred ever be set aside?
Judging others by himself, his resolve only hardened.
Gritting his teeth, Ling Tuisi said coldly, "Brother, I don't wish to discuss my daughter's marriage right now. Please forgive me."
Li Daoqiang raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Ling Tuisi to refuse.
He didn't mind, fully understanding the man's thoughts. He sighed lightly and said, "Brother Ling, why do this? Look, Ding Dian is now my brother. Soon, the Black Dragon Stronghold will have two grandmasters. So you can't kill Ding Dian. He'll live well. Why cling to those old grudges? Isn't that just asking for trouble?"
A meaningful glance made Ling Tuisi stiffen.
It was the feeling of death.
A blatant warning.
Ling Tuisi seethed inside.
Countless thoughts raced through his mind, including ways to deal with Ding Dian and Li Daoqiang.
Using the Liancheng Jue treasure as bait?
The thought came and went, replaced by hesitation.
Could the Liancheng Jue treasure kill two grandmasters?
Even if Ding Dian failed his breakthrough, could it kill Li Daoqiang?
He wasn't sure.
"Alright, Brother Ling, I know what you're thinking. Look on the bright side. Once Ding Dian marries Miss Ling, he'll be your son-in-law. As long as Miss Ling is around—no, later when your grandchildren are born—you'll always be father and son-in-law, and it'll strengthen ties with my Black Dragon Stronghold. So, Brother Ling, I promise you: Ding Dian will never harm you. You should trust my word, right?" Li Daoqiang said grandly.
Ling Tuisi's face remained dark, silent.
Seeing this, Li Daoqiang didn't press. Instead, he decisively said, "Brother Ling, I know you still have doubts. Li Daoqiang and I are sworn brothers, so let me make this decision for you. In two days, Brother Ding and Miss Ling will officially marry at my Black Dragon Stronghold. Brother Ling, don't blame me. I believe one day you'll thank me for this."
With that, he chuckled and patted Ling Tuisi's shoulder.
Ling Tuisi felt a lump in his chest, unable to vent.
His hands, hidden beneath his sleeves, clenched into fists, trembling.
Li Daoqiang's smile didn't waver. He suddenly leaned close to Ling Tuisi's ear and whispered, "Brother Ling, a wise man adapts to circumstances. Why can't you see that?"
Then he turned and walked away, saying casually, "Brother Ling, I'll bring Ding Dian over shortly. We'll take Miss Ling straight back to the Black Dragon Stronghold for the wedding. Given the complications with our identities, please forgive the rush. Oh, and if you have any other objections, feel free to think it over and see if you can make Li give up."
The last sentence carried a deeper meaning.
Ling Tuisi's eyes blazed with fury.
Li... Dao... Qiang.
Do you really think you've got me cornered?
A chilling aura radiated from Ling Tuisi, like a wounded beast ready to fight to the death.
Gao Yuan and the others kept their heads down, not daring to speak.
After a long moment, Ling Tuisi regained his composure.
He was, after all, a man who had weathered many storms.
Unless absolutely necessary, gambling wasn't his style.
With a grim face, he said coldly, "Go fetch the young lady."
"Yes."
Gao Yuan responded immediately.
Before long, Li Daoqiang brought Ding Dian to the Ling residence.
This time, Ling Tuisi didn't surprise him. His attitude was good, though still somewhat distant, but he solemnly handed Ling Shuanghua over to Ding Dian.
He looked every bit the loving father.
Li Daoqiang watched silently, a faint smile on his face.
To him, it didn't matter what Ling Tuisi was thinking or if he was plotting against him. As long as Ling Tuisi knew when to yield, that was enough.
They didn't stay long. Ling Shuanghua, with only a maid and some luggage, followed Li Daoqiang and Ding Dian out of the Ling residence.
Back at the Black Dragon Stronghold's base, Li Daoqiang tactfully excused himself. The two star-crossed lovers could no longer hold back, crying and pouring out their longing for each other.
Li Daoqiang had no interest in listening. He just felt a slight pang of regret.
Ling Shuanghua had a fine bearing and a good figure, but her face...
He could only say that woman had been too harsh on herself, scarring it beyond recognition.
If it weren't so severe, given Ling Tuisi's status, it wouldn't have been hard to treat.
Now, well, in the dark, it's all the same.
No, wait. With Ding Dian's skill, night was as bright as day to him.
That thought made his mind wander a bit.
He quickly suppressed those ideas and waited patiently.
After a while, Ding Dian came to find him.
"Thank you, Chief."
As soon as they met, Ding Dian bowed solemnly, full of gratitude.
Li Daoqiang smiled. "It's nothing. Since I promised you, I'd see it through."
(Thank you for your support.) ......